Versatile Daniels could debut in NFC title game

B.J. Daniels is officially listed as the Seahawks third-string quarterback. But he can play almost every other position.

The Seahawks claimed QB B.J. Daniels off waivers from the 49ers last season. A chance to make his first career NFL appearance will come Sunday. / Seattle Seahawks

RENTON — Let it be known that B.J. Daniels can’t play on offensive or defensive lines.

“Anything other than that,” said WR Ricardo Lockette, “he can do.”

That is the simplest way to explain why the Seahawks chose to add Daniels, the third-string quarterback, to their 53-man roster Monday after rookie WR Paul Richardson was placed on injured reserve because of a torn ACL in his left knee.

In practice, Daniels is the baseball equivalent of a utility player. Among his responsibilities: Kick returner, punt returner, wide receiver, quarterback, running back, cornerback and safety.

“In this game, he’s going to be a special teams guy if he’s in there,” said coach Pete Carroll. “We could play him at quarterback if we needed. And if we had to spot him in there, he could be an emergency running back — and he can play the zebra spot for wide receivers.

“That’s a lot of stuff.”

Daniels, 25, has never appeared in an NFL game and spent the duration of this season as an asset on the Seahawks practice squad after failing to make the team out of training camp. This after Seattle claimed him off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers in October 2013, released him in November, then re-signed him to the practice squad two days later.

Since joining the Seahawks, he’s been active for one game — last year against the Falcons — while doing everything he can in practice to show that can be a valuable addition to the active roster.

That meant learning plays on offense and defense, a transition made easier by his days playing quarterback at University of South Florida before the 49ers took the 5-foot-11, 217-pound Tallahassee, FL. native in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL draft.

“As a quarterback you have to know offense and defense so it’s not too much different,” Daniels said. “I don’t have to study or be someone else. I can just be myself in practice. I’ve been blessed with the ability to catch and run and throw, so if that’s what I have to do, that’s what I’m doing.”

He’s earned the respect of Seattle’s wide receivers, in particular.

“I can’t say enough about B.J. Daniels,” Baldwin said earlier this week. “He’s an unbelievable athlete, just capable of doing everything. Obviously, we know him as a quarterback. He’s got a great arm. Great accuracy.

“But his athletic ability is what stands out to me. Not only when he goes to play receiver, but as a kick returner, running back on our scout team. He showed a tendency to catch the tough catches in traffic.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Daniels is going to jump in Sunday and play the slot wide receiver spot in his first NFL game. But for the past three or four months in practice, he’s worked as a kick and punt returner.

“He makes guys miss when he’s at running back and at kick returner,” Baldwin said. “He has a lot of attributes that I hope are going to lead to his success in this league.”

Richardson emerged as Seattle’s primary kick returner before getting hurt. WR Bryan Walters hasn’t had much of an impact as a punt returner since assuming the role early in the regular season after FS Earl Thomas muffed a punt in the opener against Green Bay.

When asked Friday, Carroll declined to reveal who he plans to start at kick returner. Baldwin is an obvious candidate. He had a 69-yard return in the second half of last season’s NFC Championship against the 49ers, helping spark a 23-17 win. He’s played there some this season, too.

YourThoughts

jafabian

It’ll be nice for Daniels to be able to say he was active for a playoff game. I wonder if he gets more of a bonus as a result? All in all I’m sure he’s excited about this.

RadioGuy

Players get a minimum of $6K per week on the practice squad while tomorrow’s conference championship games are worth $42,000 per player. Some guys take a pay cut in the playoffs, but not B.J. His pay could be going up seven-fold this weekend.

ll9956

PC isn’t saying much about how Daniels could be used. This leads me to picture him lining up in the backfield as a running back, receiving a lateral from RW and heaving a long pass down field. Maybe I’m in the twilight zone, but that is a play that no Hawks opponent has seen. In any event I wish him the best.

PokeyPuffy

next man up! welcome aboard

Big

Is he worried Daniels will beat him out?

Said Baldwin, smiling:

“Nope.”

Exactly. Wish BJ well if he gets into the game.

Its onlySports(DavidWakefield)

Would be nice if he were to record a few really productive punt returns and contribute to the unsung hero thing… off the street …under rocks.Wherever Seattle needs to find talent they leave no stone unturned.

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